>>5170491"So who do you live with?" You doubt a ditz like this can live on her own, so there must be someone there to be her caretaker.
"Oh, I have a few people there! It's thanks to my dad Bernard that we are still alive here. He tends to make weapons for Barnham to use. The more weapons my father makes, the more food gets distributed to our folks."
And judging by how many of them are trying to reach to the rats on the floor to eat, he probably can't do them fast enough to supply an army.
"My brother Benny also lives there! He's a bit on the shy side, but he's great at playing the flute. For some reason he stops playing it when I'm home, but I love to hear his music, do you think he's upset with me?"
"I wouldn't know. Has he always been this way?"
"He's had a little speech impediment when he was wrong, but it's gotten worse over time to the point where he barely bothers to speak. I wonder what made him act like that..." Zhafira looks down, before perking back up again and humming another song. It's like she can't process sadness for too long.
"Is there anywhere I could stay? Just a place to sleep would be fine by me."
"I'm sorry. Our guest room is occupied by the farmer lady. She spends all day trying to fix the soil here to plant the seeds she find from the fruits, but none of them grow long enough to give us fruits. I'm sure Benny wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor, but I have too much heart to ask him that. I want him to be happy!" Her chin lifts up with pride, wanting the best for her younger sibling. Guess you can just look for an empty home, not like there are that many people living here that would fight for food or sleeping rooms. It mostly looks like a pack of women, kids and the elderly.
"What else do you know about Barnham, why do you think the king will want to take him down?"
"He's been stealing soldiers and refusing to help in the hundred year war. Why wouldn't the king be angry at him? Surely that Band Of The Falcons will invade this place and give him the what for!" Zhafira proclaims, apparently not knowing that the war is already over.
"...You do know that the Hundred Year War is over, right? And so is the Band-"
"Lies! If the war was over, we would have been freed already! The king does not accept slavery in his territory." It seems you're not the first that tries to contest these claims, but her denial is evident.
Soon enough, you arrive in a small shack, highlighted by the smoke of a fireplace. The clank of metal comes from the inside, where Zhafira's father most likely is. The sound of coughing is heard from two different people, but they don't seem to come outside.
"I hope you don't mind the smoke. That's why I always stay out during the day..." She whispers the last sentence in your ear, grinning as she promptly observes your next action.
>Is there anywhere I can dry myself?>How often do the guards come over here?>Is this all there is to this place?>Where is the farmer?>Does your father take commissions? 